Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto) is being furnished by Ellington Financial Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD.

On March 7, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing its estimated book value per common share as of February 28, 2019. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instructions B.2 and B.6 of Form 8-K, the information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1 hereto), shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is being furnished herewith this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.

Date:

March 7, 2019

By:

/s/ JR Herlihy

JR Herlihy

Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

Description

Exhibit 99.1

Press Release dated March 7, 2019

Exhibit

Exhibit 99.1

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL REPORTS ESTIMATED

BOOK VALUE PER SHARE AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2019

OLD GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, March 7, 2019—Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE: EFC) ("Ellington Financial" or the "Company") today announced that its estimated book value per share as of February 28, 2019 was $18.87. This amount gives effect to the previously announced dividend in the amount of $0.41 per share, payable on March 15, 2019 to holders of record on March 1, 2019, with an ex-dividend date of February 28, 2019. Estimated book value per share is subject to change upon completion of the Company's month-end valuation procedures relating to its investment positions, and any such change could be material. There can be no assurance that the Company's estimated book value per share as of February 28, 2019 is indicative of what the Company's results are likely to be for the three month period ending March 31, 2019 or in future periods, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise its estimated book value per share prior to issuance of financial statements for such periods.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from the Company's beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "will," "should," "may," "expect," "project," "believe," "intend," "seek," "plan" and similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. The Company's results can fluctuate from month to month depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and/or are difficult to predict, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, and other changes in market conditions and economic trends. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2018, which can be accessed through the link to our SEC filings under "For Our Shareholders" on the Company's website (www.ellingtonfinancial.com) or at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports the Company files with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

This release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer of any securities or solicitation of an offer to purchase securities.